Chapter Eighteen
1093 Words
Alpha Nate
“What in the f**k was that?” I growled as I watched my mate march towards the pack house.
“Nate, your mother is meeting them at the pack house. She is going to check on Ayla and the baby.” My father said. “But you have to remember, son, that she is a queen of so many and what you did was disrespectful. If you don’t have faith in her, her kingdom won’t.” I growled at my father’s statement. I was trying to keep my mate safe.
“You have got to be f*****g kidding me? I’m trying to keep her safe! This isn’t about ‘her people’, this is about keeping her and our child safe,” I shouted. “He could have seen any one of the goddamn kingdoms but yet he shows up here? But I'm the bad guy?"
"No, you're supposed to stand by her side and be supportive of the life she was given. Not undermine her in front of others," Atlas retorted.
"So, I was supposed to let this dragon speak to my pregnant mate?" I snapped. "Have you ever dealt with a dragon? I sure haven't."
I cursed when my phone rang. Being here was supposed to be relaxing, but it has been anything but.
"Xander?" I answered.
"Dear god, Nate, a dragon!"
"What the f**k was I supposed to do? He came to the pack and confronted her. He could have seen any of the princes or even Kaden, but he sought her out instead. What the f**k is going on?" I demanded.
"Nate, you need to bring her back here. It's only a matter of time before something else shows up there and the others are getting nervous about her being away from the pack," he sighed.
"I don't care how they're feeling. She is my mate, and I'm sick and tired of having to share her. I'm tired of having to tiptoe around her ex. Just figure out what the dragon wants and call me back." I hung out and pinched the bridge of my nose as I exhaled the overwhelming feeling of anger.
"Son."
"Dad, I don't want to hear it. I'm just trying to keep her safe."
"Being overprotective won't change the past, Nate. None of us want to see anything happen to her, but if you keep her in the dark, she will grow to resent you," he warned.
"Get the warriors ready," I turned to one of my warriors, "we leave in the morning."
I walked toward the pack house without another word to anyone. Guilt twisted my stomach painfully as my father's words repeated in my head. Everything she endured was because I didn't protect her and I won't be making that mistake again. Even if she hates me. As long as our child and her are safe, that's all that matters.
I found my mate sitting on the edge of the pool with her legs in the water. She didn't look at me while I took off my shoes. I half expected her to slip into the water to get away from me when I sat down beside her. The sun was just starting to set as we sat in silence.
"So, dragons?" Ayla looked at me.
"I've never seen one before, but I've read any and everything mystical creatures. After not knowing about mermaids and then vampires. I needed to know everything I could to keep you safe." I confessed.
She leaned her head on my shoulder, "I should have done that," she mumbled.
"Baby, you have had a lot going on. From your mother to growing our baby. It's been a hard couple of months." I kissed her forehead as I wrapped an arm around her and was thankful she didn't pull away.
"A queen shouldn't make excuses, Nate. My lack of awareness could get people killed. And I have a feeling if dragons can't protect themselves from this threat, how the hell am I going to protect them?" she exclaimed.
"I have Xander looking into it. And we will deal with it tomorrow when we are back in the pack, but tonight, we should enjoy our time here with our families," I told her.
"Yeah," she sighed.
"How are you feeling?" I mumbled as I placed another kiss on her forehead.
"Exhausted. And my stomach won't settle."
"You're probably hungry, baby. I know you don't want to eat but you have to. You are growing our baby," I squeezed her against my side.
"I'm just so worried. I thought I would feel better after telling our families, but now, I feel more anxious than I did before. Something bad is coming, and I'm worried I won't be able to protect everyone this time," she sniffled. "I know nothing about any of this. I'm a terrible queen who is going to get everyone killed," she cried. I twisted her towards me and wrapped my arms around her as she cried on my shoulder. Emotionally, my poor mate has had enough. She isn't used to the pressure of having lives in her hands. I've had that beat into me since I was a boy. Being a beta, I was going to have to make tough decisions. Now I was an alpha with a pack and a queen with a kingdom.
"Baby, the challenge is to handle the things you can change right now. We don't know what is happening with the dragons, and until we do, I can't have you stressing about things that you might not be able to change. Our baby needs you to be healthy, and I need that too."
"I'm letting so many people down, Nate," she cried. "He risked coming here because he believes I can help him. He didn't go see the others, he came to me. I may be the only one who can help. How can I keep our baby safe and help my people?"
"Our baby will always come first," she went to protest, but I held a finger to her lips. "You can't feel guilty about keeping your family safe. I don't, and I will protect you both above all else. Nothing will stop me from keeping you both safe. You may hate me, but I don't care as long as you and our baby are safe. I failed you once, and I won't ever fail you again." I promised her.
"I love you, and I'm sorry I'm so difficult," she shrugged.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, baby."
- Writer
